reflections on 2006

as this year is still pretty new, i don't think it will mind if i pause for a moment to randomly reflect on the last 365 days. most of this won't make sense to most of you, but as this is a personal reflection, i guess you're just kinda along for the ride! ;)

• having nephews is fun!
• a year that starts out rough can still turn into a pretty good thing by the end
• Grey's Anatomy can have a tremendous influence on one's musical interests
• setting up the ipod is no guarantee that actual exercise will follow (...but that was my plan!!)
• you can have the best of intentions and still be a crumby friend
• camp is a lot of fun even when you're 30...and your camp friends are always the most exciting...and the most random
• traumatic events, while awful at the moment, don't always lead to death...sometimes they lead to life! (...or at least I hope so)
• roadtrips are always an adventure...i wish i'd have taken a few more
• i love the mountains!
• people can have high-flown ideals and godly callings...and still come off as manipulative and self-serving...experience and perspective are truly double-edged swords
• i got lots of compliments as a brunette...but i still prefer being a blond
• if your tv seems to be going out, be sure you check the $10 cable before shelling out the $$$ for a new one! (and making your poor brother-in-law haul it up to your second floor apartment for you!)
• knowing your way around New York City has it's ups and downs
• if you find something that you REALLY want, you should get it then instead of waiting and figuring that you'll be able to find it again later...because chances are, you won't and then you'll always think of it as the one that got away!
• Chinatown is a dangerous place! ;)
• film SLR cameras are lots of fun
• sometimes you only get one shot...and you have to be ready to take it when it comes
• good books make themselves known in the strangest of ways sometimes
• sometimes it's easier to know what you don't want, than to figure out what you do!
• you can have profiles on myspace and facebook and still feel disconnected
• feeling significant has little to do with how much the people around you seem to value you--knowing that God has placed you here--in these circumstances, with these quirks and foibles--for such a time as this (...whatever that might be) and knowing that HE sees you and that HE will sustain you is where you find true significance.
• executing a tyrannical leader does little to wipe out tyranny in the world
• consumer-driven philanthropy is a CROCK! (i'm gonna be blogging about this soon because it drives me absolutely nuts!!) if you want to give, then GIVE...it shouldn't be about what you get in exchange!
• those who find beauty in ugliness are truly blessed in this world. and we should learn to look beyond the seemingly repulsive surface to see the beauty of God's creation.

i'm sure there is more...2006 has been a full year! i'm excited to see what 2007 has in store!